Mute for wind instruments and the like



March 30 1926.

G. SCHLUESSELBURG MUTE FOR WIND INSTRUMENTS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed Feb. 21, 1923 INVENTOR. uesselburg I ATTORNE March 30,1926.

, 1,578,763 G. SCHLUESSELBURG MUTE FOR WIND INSTRUMENTS AND THE LIKEFiled Feb. 21, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheei 2 INVENTOR. G60 7'96 Schluesselb urgPatented Mar. 30, 1925.

UNITED stares PATENT orrica.

Gnonqn SCHLUESSELBURG, or onrcaeo, ILLInors, Assisnoaor ONE-HALF r r. T.Bennett, or onrcaeo, runners.

MUTE FOB WIND INSTRUMENTS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed February 21, 1923. Serial No..620,338.

T 0 aZZ whom e't may concern Be it known that I, SCI-ILUESSEL- nono, acitizen of the German Republic, residing at Chicago, in-the county ofCook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Mutes for Vind Instruments and the like, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention has to do with certain improvements in mutes for windinstruments and the like, such as cornets, trombones, and the like.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a construction of mutewhich will give a very pleasing effect when in use and which willmaterially improve the operation of devices of this kind.

In connection with the foregoing, a further object of the invention isto provide an arrangement such that certain portions of the device canbe used either individually or in combination with other portions sonsto make it possible to produce different effects in service.

Other objects and uses of the invention will appear from a detaileddescription of the same which consists in the features of constructionand combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section through a mute embodying thefeatures of the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows a view similar to that of Fig. 1 with the exception thatthe end of the central tube has been provided with a flared horn;

Fig. 3 shows a view similar to that of Fig. 1 with the exception thatthe tube is provided with a modified form of end partition;

Fig. i is a section taken on the line ll of Fig. 2, looking in thedirection of the arrows; and

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, looking in thedirection of the arrows.

Referring first to the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, the wind instrumentitself is designated by the numeral 6. Its discharge end 7 is flared outin the usual manner.

The mute of the present invention includes generally a tube 8 which islocated centrally within the instrument 6, the lower end 9 of said tubebeing of smaller size than an n trument itselt at the iimnegliatei adjacent cross section, sothat there is established an annular passage 10between the instrument 6 and the tube 8.

I provide a chamber 11 between the tube 8 and the instrument itself.

The chamber 11 is formed by establishing a seal between the outer endportion of the tube 8 and the outer portion 12 of the instrument 6. Inthe arrangementshown in Fig. 1, this seal is established by a flaredmember 13 whose inner end 14 may he slipped down over the tube 8, andwhose outer end 15 is flared outwardly and preferably curled around asshown in Fig. 1, sothat it can seal evenly against the end portion 12.This member 13 can be easily set into place or removed from time to timedepending upon the manner in which the mute is to be used.

The tube 8 is held in place within the instrument by a ring-like plug 16which tapers in shape to conform to the contour of the inner face of theinstrument 6. This plug 1.6 has a central perforation of proper size toreceive the tube 8 with a snug fit, and also has a series of notches 17in its outside surface to establish openings permitting the movementofair between the chamber 11 and the rest of the instrument.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 2, I have provided a supplementalbell-shaped member 18 which can be set over the end of the tube 8 andinto the member 13. This bell-shaped member 18, when used, serves toadditionally influence and affect the sound produced by the instrument.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3, the member 13 is shortened inlength, but is provided with a central bell-shaped recess 19corresponding in shape to the bell-shaped member 18 of the arrangementof Fig. 2. Fig. 3 may be considered as, in some respects, embodying thefeatures of both Figs. 1 and 2.

It is thus evident that in each of the arrangements illustrated there isestablished a chamber adjacent to the end portion of the windinstrumentitself, together with a tubular passage reaching centrallythrough said chamber; the inner end of'said tubular passagecommunicating with both the cham- I ber andthe air passage of the windinstrument itself.

Furthermore, I have provided'several different arrangements eachembodying the diameter and smooth bore slidably mounted in saidextension, means for supporting said slidably mounted tube Within thesmall end of thebell While permitting passage of air blast between thesaid parts, the circular body member increasing in size towards itsouter end and having its outer end curved outwardly towards the outerend of the bell of the Wind instrument, and into contact therewith andcurled inwardly towards the axis of the instrument on an easy curve,substantially as described.

cnoncn SCHLUESSELBURG.

